Military aircraft from 35 countries stopped off at Shannon

Friday 4 July 2014

Military aircraft from 35 different countries were granted permission to land at Shannon Airport last year.

In a written reply to a parliamentary question Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore said his department granted permission subject to a number of conditions including that the aircraft were unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, or that the flights did not form any part of military exercises or operations.

Last month members of anti-war group ShannonWatch appeared before an Oireachtas Committee and claimed the government instructed gardaí not to inspect planes stopping off at Shannon Airport which are suspected of being used in CIA rendition flights.